and before you were born I consecrated you;

I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

— Jeremiah 1:5

“I knew that you would be a sinner, but I loved you for Christ's sake.” The elect have always been in Christ. This is God's Plan A - that he'd make the world for his glory, and some would be saved.

God appoints us to be prophets. He is the One that ordains us to everlasting life and usefulness. He appointed Paul. Acts 22:14-15 "And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard."

Saul of Tarsus was a blasphemer and a harmful person. He was proud and self righteous, but God loved him. He ordained and appointed him to be an Apostle. It is the same with us. We have been appointed to serve God instead of to destruction. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,” We've been ordained to serve him forever, to give him glory, and to reign in paradise. We've been appointed to conquer this world, defeat Satan, and overcome our sin. We've been appointed to the inheritance. Ephesians 1:11 — "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,"

It is a great privilege that comes at a great cost, but compared to the gains, the cost is nothing.

Secondly, We have our excuses, and we have our sins. — Jeremiah 1:6, Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”

Moses did not want to be called, but God's grace overcame him. He finally commanded him to be a prophet, and the bottom line is we have no choice! Exodus 7:2 — "You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land." Exodus 7:6 — "Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the LORD commanded them."

God doesn't want to hear our excuses. He doesn't care. We have been called and commissioned. — Jeremiah 1:7, But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.”

This is electing grace. If he takes our excuses, then we've never been called, and we excuse ourselves from the feast. There is a general call. He says, “Come to the privileges. Come to the gospel. Be born again.” There is, however, a sovereign call that DEMANDS that we come and arrests us. It fetches us like David fetched Mephibosheth. He was determined to show him mercy. 2 Samuel 9:5 — "Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. He won't let us escape or run. He tracks us down like Jonah.

We shall speak whatever God commands us. We have no choice. There is no Plan B. If we agree, it is well. If not, there is trouble.

Thirdly, Here's the blessed promise! God's with us in all that we need. — Jeremiah 1:8, “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.”

He put away our sin, and he equips us. He gives us the Spirit. Ezekiel 36:27 — "And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules." There are no more prophets, but we prophecy, saying, “Thus says the Lord, from the Scripture.” We have no new revelation, but we have the word of grace. We are loosed from the bondage of sin, and enabled to serve.

God never calls a person that he doesn't equip. He gives us the Holy Spirit because of the blood of Christ. He - the God of the gospel - is with us. Let us look to this equipment in the battle. Jeremiah 1:9-10 — "Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”"

Finally, if we fear men, then we'll be defeated. Jeremiah 1:17 — "But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them."

This is a great warning. God's teaching us the results of cowardice and compromise. He puts godly fear in our hearts, lest we be scattered. He fulfills his warning and shames us. He makes us feel what it's like to be in bondage, scared of our own shadow. Leviticus 26:17 — "I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee when none pursues you.” He makes us taste the fear of man - guilt, bondage, and separation from God. He makes it horrible, until we fear God, lest we tremble before mere creatures!

The fear of God has comforts. It is powerful! The fear of man has none. It is miserable! Man is a cruel master, if we seek approval in his face. God's a good Master, if we please him only.

Do not fear man. Fear him who binds the soul in hell. Fear him who alone gives comfort, and you will have joy and peace. Matthew 10:28 — "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

God told Jeremiah that they'd fight against him, but he'd make him an iron pillar and a brass wall. Iron stands and smashes. Brass is impenetrable. Jeremiah 1:18-19 — "And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.”"